Injuries in football are part and parcel of the beautiful game, but some go beyond the typical strains and sprains, leaving lasting scars - both physical and psychological - on the players involved. In the Premier League, where the English game is renowned for its grittier, more physical edge compared to leagues such as in Spain and Italy, there have been plenty of stomach-turning moments.
From head injuries that can be heard on television to full-speed, studs-up tackles that prompt a collective groan followed by a deathly silence in the crowd, below are the 13 worst injuries in Premier League history, how long recovery took, and whether the players involved were ever the same again upon returning to action.
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13 Raul Jimenez - Fractured Skull (2020)
Recovery time: 8 months
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Raul Jimenez’s injury in 2020 remains one of the most disturbing incidents in recent Premier League memory. Playing for Wolves against Arsenal, the Mexican striker collided heads with David Luiz during a defensive challenge, suffering a fractured skull. He was immediately rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, with his recovery far from certain at the time.
Although Jimenez returned to action after several months, it took much longer before he looked anywhere near his best. In the 2024/25 campaign, however, he featured in every league match, scoring 12 goals and providing three assists while rivalling Rodrigo Muniz as Fulham’s first-choice striker, and he has hardly looked back since.
12 Andre Gomes - Fractured Dislocated Ankle (2019)
Recovery time: 4 months
Andre Gomes
Andre Gomes suffered a horrific fracture-dislocation of his right ankle in November 2019 during Everton’s clash with Tottenham, following a tackle by Son Heung-min. The South Korean could not contain his emotions when he saw the damage he had left on his opponent, breaking down in tears and needing to be consoled.
The midfielder underwent successful surgery the following day and, remarkably, returned to action just 112 days later, on February 23, 2020, against Arsenal. Now 32, he plies his trade with LOSC Lille in Ligue 1, having featured in 20 league matches last season.
11 Ryan Mason - Fractured Skull (2017)
Recovery time: Never played again
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In 2017, Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason suffered a career-ending injury that would change his life forever. In a match against Chelsea, Mason collided heads with Gary Cahill while both players contested a corner. The impact left Mason unconscious on the field, and he was stretchered off after eight minutes of medical attention.
A hospital visit revealed the severity of his injury: a fractured skull that required surgery to insert 14 metal plates and 28 screws. Despite a brave attempt to return to the field, Mason was forced to retire at just 26 years old. Following two terms as Tottenham's interim manager, he now oversees West Bromwich Albion in the Championship.
10 Hatem Ben Arfa - Double Leg Break (2010)
Recovery time: 8 months
Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa suffered a devastating double leg break on October 3, 2010, during Newcastle United’s Premier League match against Manchester City. The injury came just four minutes in, when City’s Nigel de Jong tackled him, fracturing the tibia and fibula in his left leg. Ben Arfa received oxygen on the pitch before being stretchered off and rushed to hospital, where he underwent successful surgery the next day to repair the breaks.
The injury sidelined him for eight months, and he later revealed it had nearly led to amputation, requiring a second operation. Remarkably, the Frenchman made his comeback in April 2011, rejoining Newcastle’s squad after undergoing rehabilitation in his home country. He didn't leave English football until 2015, and even went on to have a short stint with PSG before retirement in 2022.
9 Aaron Ramsey - Double Leg Break (2010)
Recovery time: 8 months
Aaron Ramsey
During a time when Stoke City were unapologetically ruthless, Ryan Shawcross clattered into a young Aaron Ramsey, breaking the Welshman’s tibia and fibula. Although Ramsey was able to return to play eight months later, that moment marked the beginning of an injury-plagued career for the midfielder.
No one can be certain how good Arsene Wenger’s protege could have become, but there is little doubt he would have achieved more than his three FA Cups, as injuries have often caught up with him ever since. Now 34, he has been without a club since October, though he did enjoy a successful stint with Juventus before bowing out.
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8 Eduardo - Broken Leg & Dislocated Ankle (2008)
Recovery time: 1 year
Eduardo off injured
Playing away at Birmingham City, Eduardo suffered a severe leg break following a shocking challenge from Martin Taylor, which left the Brazilian’s bone poking out of his sock. It was immediately clear how serious the injury was, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas visibly upset after witnessing the incident.
It is fair to say the striker was never the same after the injury, returning to action over a year later before being sold to Shakhtar Donetsk. Club physio at the time, Gary Lewis, said, as per The Athletic: "I'll never forget it. It's probably the worst injury I've ever seen and when you see something that bad it really sticks in your memory.
"When I went on the pitch I noticed his ankle was dislocated and in the wrong shape. I also saw the bone sticking out of his sock, so I knew it was an open fracture."
7 Petr Cech - Depressed Skull Fracture (2006)
Recovery time: 3 months
Petr Cech
Similarly to the aforementioned Mason, former Chelsea goalkeeper, Petr Cech, suffered a horrendous head injury back in 2006 against Reading. His career has gone down in Premier League history, with the Czech Republic shot-stopper having won five FA Cups, four Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Europa League.
However, his career could have ended a lot sooner than when he retired back in 2019. After Stephen Hunt collided with Cech's head in the opening seconds of the game, the goalkeeper was rushed to hospital to undergo emergency surgery to have metal plates inserted into his head. Such is the nature of his role, he was forced to wear an infamous head guard throughout his career likened to ones used in rugby.
6 Pedro Mendes - Knocked Out & Seizure (2006)
Recovery time: Discharged next day
Pedro Mendes
Pedro Mendes
On August 23, 2006, during a Premier League match between Portsmouth and Manchester City, Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes suffered a severe injury from a reckless elbow by City defender Ben Thatcher. The vicious challenge struck Mendes in the face, knocking him unconscious on the pitch. He required immediate oxygen and was rushed to the hospital, experiencing a seizure en route and spending the night under observation.
Mendes later described it as the "worst moment" of his career, fearing long-term damage. Thatcher received an eight-game ban and a fine, while Mendes made a full recovery and continued to play for several years without any complications. It's unlike other typical injuries throughout this list, but certainly deserves a mention for just how brutal it was at the time.
5 Djibril Cisse - Broken Tibia & Fibula (2004)
Recovery time: 7 months
Djibril Cisse
While playing for Liverpool in a league match against Blackburn Rovers, Djibril Cisse suffered a horrific double leg fracture when his boot got stuck in the turf while challenging for the ball. His tibia and fibula in his left leg snapped, with the shin bone protruding several inches, causing a comminuted fracture and loss of pulses in his foot.
Rushed to hospital, he underwent a two-hour surgery and narrowly avoided amputation thanks to quick medical intervention. Remarkably, Cisse returned to action in April 2005. However, he broke his right leg in a 2006 international friendly, causing him to miss the World Cup. Though his pace may have been slightly affected long-term, he continued playing professionally until 2015, retiring due to a hip issue unrelated to his legs.
4 Alf-Inge Haaland - Knee Injury (2001)
Recovery time: A few days (technically)
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Known as one of the worst red card tackles in Premier League history, Roy Keane’s darker side showed when he went flying into a tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland during the Manchester derby. The challenge ended with Keane’s studs driving into his opponent’s knee at what still looks to be at least a million miles an hour, even in slow-motion replays.
For the tackle, Keane received a three-match ban and a £5,000 fine. Although Erling Haaland’s father technically recovered within a few days, the damage had a lasting impact and undoubtedly played a role in his decision to retire just two years later.